How to be Happy

When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. – Not actually John Lennon, but everyone always attributes this to him. It’s a good quote anyway.

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE

You can spend your whole life looking at other people and feeling rubbish because you don’t measure up. You’re not as rich/tall/handsome/good at Street Fighter 2/etc. Don’t bother. The only person you need to compare yourself to, is you. There is literally no point in feeling jealous or bitter about what other people have. No one has lived your life apart from you. Start by looking at what you want to be. What you want to achieve. Set yourself goals that matter to you. No-one else matters.

GET SOME SLEEP

Being a student is stressful. You have essay deadlines, a varied schedule, and you probably live with at least one night owl who keeps you up at night watching Deathnote with the sound turned up on his laptop. Let’s be realistic; getting 8 hours of sleep isn’t always possible. But try to get some sleep if you can. Things will look better in the morning, I promise. Turn off the computer, put your phone away, and try to get some rest.

STOP SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE

Misery loves company, as the saying goes… Look at the people around you; are they making you happy or bringing you down? Take a long hard look. Do you have fun with these people? Do they support you, or do they just facilitate you being unhappy? It’s a very hard thing to do, but sometimes the best thing to do (for you and for them) is to cut someone loose. You can’t look after other people until you can look after yourself.

GO FOR A RUN

You don’t need fancy sports gear. You need a pair of trainers and some feet. Don’t worry about how you look; just run around the block. It will clear your thoughts and give you some fresh air. Exercise produces endorphins – one of the happy hormones in the brain. Give it a go, you might like it.

DO SOMETHING FUN

Remember what you love and what makes you happy. When you’re feeling down, it can seem like nothing is worthwhile. It is the hardest thing in the world, but force yourself to have fun. See a friend for a few drinks in the pub. Go to a Soc meet on campus. Go to the cinema! Even if the film is awful, you’ll still have fun.

Remember, the SPG is a great magazine- but we are not mental health experts. These guys are: